Okay, for my first bombers I've plumped for the Destroyer and have just recieved a pair in the mail, my reasoning being their ability to approach a target, take out defences on the flightpath then pull up for a bombing run on the primary target.

For a secondary loadout I'm assuming Bombs are the best bet to increase chances on taking out the target, counting on the autocannon being enough to deal with defences - does that sound reasonable or do people think taking Hellstrike loadout would be a better choice?

HarkonGreywolf

23-06-2007, 12:23

OK, I don't play Imperial Navy, but looking through the book I have a few questions for you.
What else does your standard force contain?
I say this because I like the idea of having the Hellsstrike missile options.
With a Weapons Load 1 Wing bombs you end up with "2 bites at the cherry" and 2 opportunites to take out Ground Targets (plus the front autocannons of course). With WL2 Hellstrike Missiles you get 3 "bites", albeit 2 "bites" at reduced dice rolling capacity. Now with 2 Marauder Destroyers WL2 gives you a total of 6 opportunities to make "bombing" runs against ground targets and not only the 4 that WL1 gives you.

I like to keep my options as wide as possible and thus would generally opt for the Hellstrikes myself.

HG

Col.Gravis

23-06-2007, 12:48

The escort for the moment is Thunderbolts, which I envisenge as dealing with enemy aircraft - though the thought of having a sweeper with hellstrikes to run at defences had occured to me.

Point taken on the number of runs then possible, though to play devil's advocate that then depends on the Marauder surviving long enough to deploy all weapons also as well as tieing you more to low level flying to do the damage, as opposed to bombs being able to drop from almost any height - though then again getting in position is harder. Hmmm not as strait forward a choice as it first seems lol

HarkonGreywolf

23-06-2007, 14:57

I agree, its never an easy choice to make.
My Orky preferences, for example, consists of all my Fightas taking Rokkits, and all my Bommas taking either Bombs or Grot Bombs/Bombs.
I don't tend to mix the two aspects at all.
I think of Fightas as the Air to Air and the Bommas as the Ground Attack wing.
It helps focus my mission objectives and enables me to actually try and gain those Objectives!
I may well try and switch some of the roles around a bit in future games, but as I'm really still learning (only played 5 games of which 3 were Dog fight basic games) I have tried to keep it as simple as possible. (Teaching an old dog new tricks approach! ;) )
As you can tell from the other thread where I "forgot" that you can fire in any arc that you have weapons, I still have a long way to go! LOL

HG

Tyra_Nid

25-06-2007, 03:01

The weapon load will determine the approach you take.

I prefer taking hellstrikes and just attacking at alt1 rather than bombing at all. That way you get maximum use out of your weapons. You can use the Autocannons, Assault Cannons, Bombs, Hellstrikes, on the ground target, whereas you cant with a higher alt bombing run.

The Marauder doesnt really have enough thrust to pull up quickly and slowly enough without stalling. I find the best option is to go low and slow, getting in a few shots with your forward-arc weapons, then letting go with the rear-arc if required.

HarkonGreywolf

26-06-2007, 23:25

You can't drop bombs below altitude 3, can you?

That's why you choose either a strafing run or a bombing run.

HG

okri_the_blue

27-06-2007, 09:50

you can it's just treated as a strafing run with a rear arck weapon. so 5+ to hit no bomb creap.

HarkonGreywolf

27-06-2007, 23:31

Sorry Okri, you are wrong!
The Rule book says:
"The Bomber must be between height levels 3-8 to make a bombing run. Bombs cannot be dropped from altitude level 1-2 (too low), or at altitude level 9 (too high)."
That's pretty specific as far as I'm concerned. If you are playing bombing runs at level 1 then you are doing it wrong, no question I'm afraid.

Hope you haven't won too many games using this rule as it would turn them into losses! :(

HG

SquishySquig

27-06-2007, 23:45

:skull: Having just looked back at the rule book I don't see any reason why you couldn't choose to drop your bombs via strafing run or via bombing run provided you meet the criteria to do one or the other, ie for strafing run being 1 level above target and for bombing run being a bomber and at least at level 3 or higher. Ork fgihta bommas can only drop their bombs via strafing run because they aren't bombers. Marauders don't seem limited to one or the other.:skull:

I'd be interested to hear more ideas on this.

fattdex

28-06-2007, 02:45

You can use bombs at level 1, just not as a bombing run. It does mention somewhere in the book that they can be used in a strafing run as a normal weapon, just in a seperate location to the bombing run entry.

What you quoted is being specific as to not being able to make the special boming run attack using bomb creep and the special to hits at levels 1, 2 and 9.

fattdex

28-06-2007, 02:51

SPECIFICALLY- Thunderbolts and lightnings are fighters, and can take bombs as an additional weapons load. Only bombers are allowed to use bombs in the special 'bombing run' between altitudes +3 and +8. Therefore, if bombs were not allowed to be dropped from level +1 in a strafing run, Thunderbolts and lightnings and any other fighters would never be allowed to drop the bombs you purchased for them.

So, bombs can be used as a normal rear arc short range weapon using normal ground level +1 strafing run rules, or if the aircraft deploying them is a bomber, it may choose to deploy the bombs using the special bombing run rules.

HarkonGreywolf

30-06-2007, 00:13

Oh right,
I do seem to have read this incorrectly.
I just assumed that a Fighta with a Bomb load would still just have to go to level 3+ to use them! After all a bomb is a bomb is a bomb. It doesn't matter which plane drops it as long as its dropped!
I will have another re-read and see whether I can make out where you guys are reading these rules.

HG - now confused and disillusioned as I thought I could learn these rules as they are so brief! :(

Tyra_Nid

30-06-2007, 11:53

I will have another re-read and see whether I can make out where you guys are reading these rules.

Ground Attack section... Seems pretty clear. :rolleyes:

A bomb isnt just a bomb. Low levels; yes, which is why anyone can drop bombs at Alt1. Its quite simple, get in position, drop the payload, hope for the best. I would assume that the distinction is that dropping a bomb from such heights as Alt3+, with any form of accuracy, would require special training or equipment that fighters just arent going have but bombers do.

Which is why there are separate rules for bombing from a strafing run, vs bombing from altitude.

Victor Romeo

03-07-2007, 07:33

When considering load out think about what wepons your opponent will have. For example when facing Eldar I know that his firestorm can't hit anything above altitude 3. This make a bombing run at Altitue 4, (hitting on 4s) a lot more appealing.

Anathema

03-07-2007, 09:08

I think the difference between the 2 types of bombing takes into account different types of real world bombing eg. bombing from altitude is like carpet bombing with bomb creep and such like WWII Lancaster and Dorniers.

Alt 1 bombing would take into account dive bombing and low level light bomb load runs such as carried out by Stukas and fighters modified for ground attack.

Tyra_Nid

03-07-2007, 12:00

I think the difference between the 2 types of bombing takes into account different types of real world bombing eg. bombing from altitude is like carpet bombing with bomb creep and such like WWII Lancaster and Dorniers.

Alt 1 bombing would take into account dive bombing and low level light bomb load runs such as carried out by Stukas and fighters modified for ground attack.

Yeah, this is exactly how I envisage it also.

HarkonGreywolf

03-07-2007, 20:24

OK, you all talk a good argument! ;)
And I understand now where my thinking was wrong, thanks for the guidance, it'll help.
Now all I've got to remember is the Bombing Creep rule and I've got it sussed! ;)